New PRIMIR Study Explores Digital Printing Outlook

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Press release from the issuing company

2/21/07 -- A new Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (PRIMIR) study, Digital Printing Outlook in a Production Environment provides quantitative analysis of the installed base of black and white and color production digital presses in North America for 2005 and a forecast for 2006-2011. In addition to the in-depth statistics, the study also examines the drivers and barriers for the adoption of digital printing. The study also investigated types of jobs, amount of variable printing, color versus black and white, and binding and finishing trends.
In addition to conducting in-depth interviews and quantitative telephone interviews, case studies of successful users of digital printing technology were also provided. Finally, an interactive model was developed to help estimate the current and future installed base of digital printing equipment and paper consumption.
According to State Street Consultants and John M. Hamm & Associates, who conducted the research for PRIMIR, “overall, the market for production digital presses is experiencing rapid growth and change. Growth in the market will come primarily from the penetration of process color in the commercial printer segment.”
Overall, printers are optimistic and feel that digital printing is a real business growth opportunity in the near-term and for the future. They see this as a value-added service rather than a replacement for offset. This is especially evident in the commercial sector where the adoption of production digital printing is rapidly increasing. Attributes such as short runs, fast turnaround and personalization are some of the drivers that are increasing the market demand for digital printing. Owners report that, job-by-job, digital printing is more profitable than offset.
Like general commercial printers, JDF usage is low among digital print providers. Even more noteworthy is the use of Universal Printer, Pre- and Post-processing Interface (UP3I), which is literally nonexistent. No respondents in the research are using UP3I; only six sites plan to in the future. More education is clearly warranted if UP3I is to be adopted by digital print providers.
The study, Digital Printing Outlook in a Production Environment, has been distributed to all members of PRIMIR and NPES. For PRIMIR membership information, contact Jackie Bland, PRIMIR Managing Director at jbland@primir.org, or by phone at (703) 264-7200, x287. Membership information is also available at www.primir.org.